a letter from my niece

Dear Auntie Autumn,

I miss you. I miss you and I want you to stay by me and sleep by my bed. I want you to stay here for ever and ever, and watch movies with me and go everywhere with me and so you can tell me everything about God because I only know a little and I want to know everything. And we will get you anything you want for your birthday. And I want you to follow me and hold me in the deep end before I fall down. Thank you for my present. (And that is all!) :)

Sierra

the new normal

There are things in Czech that are different than I'm used to. Some of these things I've gotten used to and they've become more "normal." And yet there are others that I still have to smile at when I encounter them.

Here are a few examples:

-man capris
-funny translations
-kids using whatever is closest as a toilet
-parents leaving strollers outside stores...with the babies still in them!

I usually take a double-take when I see this last one. I guess I'm getting used to it though because I saw a stroller outside a store this morning and hardly noticed it was there. But what really got me was when I saw the baby. The lady working at the grocery store was ringing up groceries with her baby on her lap!

Oh, Czech Republic...how I love your little qwerks!

dorost

Okay, so I haven't written about my life in a while, so I thought I would start posting pictures.

One of the things I've been involved with has been the middle school youth group at my church. It's a very new ministry and right now we have six kids who come regularly. We're also working with another middle school ministry in a town called Litomyšl. We join them every other week for youth group, where there are about 25 kids total (including our 6). On the off week, we meet at our church and have a game club. The past couple times we've had game club, the guys and girls have been splitting up...the guys go and play floor ball, and the girls have been playing card games (mostly Dutch Blitz lately).

Here's a picture of my dorost (middle school) girls. Klara, Ester, & Eliska (even though Eliska's really in high school). These girls are great! And awesome Blitz players! :)

welcome to my world

After only living in Czech for a short period of time, my English grammar has already gone downhill. I'm sure by the time I go back to visit the states, this is how I'll be talking...

English Problems

Top ten things that make me laugh:

10) silly warning labels (ex. Portable stroller, Caution: Remove infant before folding for storage.)

9) things kids say

8) the Confessions of a Tooth Fairy video on youtube.

7) Nate’s translation of Trevor’s pirate joke

6) ash

5) Britney Boatman

4) cultural stories/mistakes

3) creative humor

2) things that shouldn’t be but are (ex. my neighbor gardening in a speedo…)

1) hearing other people laugh

oh visa my visa...

Why is it that getting a visa to live in a different country is so difficult? Soon after I moved here I applied for my short-term visa and had it within a week. I was so thankful I didn't have to deal with it and it was nice and easy. Then I started to apply for my long-term visa.

When I brought my paperwork in, they asked me why I waited so long to bring it in. I didn't think it was going to take so long for it to be ready, so I was surprised to hear them ask me that. I thought things were going well and called them about a month later to see if it was ready. They were surprised I would even ask that soon because mine was one of the "fresh cases". In the meantime, my short term visa was about to expire. I tried to figure out every possible option-only to settle on the fact that I just had to wait and hope that it'll be ready soon. There's no reason to stress over something when you can't change the outcome of it. So I waited. About a week later (while I was at English camp) I got a phone call from my roommate..."Um...there were three policemen who came to the door looking for you. They said they have a letter that they have to deliver to your hands and can't tell me what it's about." Ahh! So much for waiting and seeing what happens! So I got back from camp and intern debrief on August 14th (knowing my short-term visa would expire on the 15th). I woke up the next morning and the bell to my front door rang. I thought it was a friend coming to visit...nope! It was the police. They asked for my passport and had me sign for the letter and they were on their way. I set the letter aside assuming I wouldn't understand it anyway. Finally, curiosity got the better of me and I opened it. It said I needed to meet at the office of the foreign police on Monday morning at 8:00am with my passport. I could tell it had something to do with my visa that I applied for in Bratislava, but I didn't know what that part of it said.

On Monday I went to the foreign police and they told me I had a few things missing from my visa paperwork (I'm pretty sure 2/3 of those things were already in there, but oh well). I gave them the other paperwork they needed and wrote down everything else. Then I asked them what I should do since my short-term visa expired. He said I still have a few days since I'm allowed to be in the country for 90 days without a visa. (Apparently, they add the days before you get your visa and you still have time left if it's less than the 90 days.) But he also said I need to leave the EU...even just to get a cup of coffee. So he told me to go to Croatia for coffee (and a stamp in my passport) and come back. So I'm going to go on a forced vacation. :) I needed one anyway and this just gives me an excuse to do it now. :)

So thankfully, I'm not going to be deported. And I don't have to leave the country for long. :)

my nephew's from the south...

but my niece is from up north.

My sister lives in Nashville. She's from up north, and her husband is from Tennessee. My niece talks to my sister all the time, so she talks just like her. My nephew on the other hand, talks to his daddy a lot...and you can tell.

The other day Hayden (2) said, "Hey Ma...it's fixin ta rain!"

summer schedule

Camp #1 – Pardubice
June 30th - July 3rd – US team training
July 4th - 11th – English camp
July 11th - 12th – follow-up

Camp #2 – Vysoke Myto
July 14th - 17th – US team training
July 18th - 25th – English camp
July 25th - 26th – follow-up

Camp #3 – Valasske Mezirici (Val Mez)
July 28th - 31st – US team training
August 1st – 8th – English camp
August 8th - 9th – follow-up

intern team 2009

Every summer a team of interns come to Eastern Europe to help run English camps and serve in the local churches.

This year, my team is small but strong. (From left to right: Melissa, me, Matt, & Jerry)

We'll be doing three camps this summer.

Pardubice: July 4 - 11
Vysoké Mýto: July 18 - 25
Val Mez: August 1 - 8

Just last week (when the interns arrived) we ran JV's version of "The Amazing Race" together. It was 48 hours long. We started in Vienna, went to Bratislava and Budapest, and ended up in Malenovice (in Czech). I wouldn't say the race was my favorite thing in the world, but we learned a lot about our team AND didn't end up in last place! :)

open fields of wild...oil?

The Czech Republic is a beautiful country. Often as I'm traveling through it, I have my nose in a book and miss the beauty around me. Other times, the beauty captivates me and I sit and enjoy looking at God's creation.

One of the things I'm often distracted by is these beautiful fields of yellow. I honestly don't think I've ever seen a shade of yellow that's so bright! These yellow fields are Rapeseed fields. It's grown for animal feed, vegetable oil, and biodiesel.

Lately, this has been the view from my bus/train windows. It's either that or the mountains. :) I love living in such a beautiful country!

company!!!

This past week my friends Kim and Joe came to visit. :) They're missionaries in Kenya and decided to take a vacation to Vienna and Prague. It was great having them here! There's something special about connecting with other missionaries who understand you in a different way. I really appreciated being able to get such precious time with them!

3 roommates & 2 towns

I've been told that one of the hardest questions for a missionary kid to answer is the question, "Where are you from?" I'm starting to be able to relate to them, because I have a hard time answering a similar question, "Where do you live?" My answer is usually, "Umm...well...I live in Strakonice AND Vysoké Mýto." I usually get a reaction of confusion in one way or another. I would imagine they typically wonder if they misunderstood my English or they if I said it wrong in Czech. The question that always follows is, "Why?"

So here's why:
I live in Strakonice with two amazing roommates, Leah and Emily. One thing that's really important to JV is that the missionaries are cared for. So for a while, I get to live with these two wonderful ladies in Strakonice.

The other place I live is Vysoké Mýto. I'm a part of the team helping with youth ministry. I get to help with the game club and youth group and small groups...things like that. I'm blessed to have another wonderful roommate in Vysoké Mýto as well, Zuzka. We definitely enjoy our time together: laughing, praying, relaxing (when we have time), speaking Czech, and doing ministry together. It's been fun getting to know her even better!

A couple weeks ago, two of my roommates were able to meet for the first time! It's crazy to think that that's even possible. :)

So there you have it...this is why I live in two towns. Just don't ask me where home is. :)

Easter Monday

I was going to post about the Czech Easter traditions, but when I read my friend Lauree's blog about them...I thought I'd just send you to her blog instead. You'll see why...

http://laureeaustin.blogspot.com/2009/04/charming-czech-tradition-from-twilight.html

a conversation with Sierra

I talked with my four-year-old niece today and this was the conversation we had:

Sierra: Why you live far far away?
Me: Because that’s where I live now.
S: But WHY so far far away?
A: I live here because I want to tell the people here about God.
S: But why they not know about God?
A: Because their moms and dads didn’t tell them about God.
S: But why they not tell them?
A: Because THEY don’t know about God.
(pause)
S: But how will you tell ALL them and their moms and dads about God?
A: I won’t be able to tell ALL of them, but I’ll tell the people who I meet.

This must have satisfied her, because she moved onto the next subject.

S: What’s your house look like?
A: Umm…(I’m really bad at describing things) The walls are white…and…you know what? We have a couch in our kitchen!
S: What?
A: We have a couch in our kitchen.
S: I cannot hear you. Talk louder!
A: (louder) I said, we have a couch in our kitchen!
S: Hang on…(talking to everyone in the room) Mom, Dad, Hayden, Nana, PipPop…you need to be quiet because I cannot hear my Auntie Autumn.
(talking to me again) Now what did you say?
A: I said, we have a couch in our kitchen.
S: Oh! We do not have a couch in our kitchen. We have…Mom, will you tell Auntie Autumn what we have in our kitchen? Okay, I love you! Bye!

crazy love

I started reading a new book today. It’s called, “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. I’ve only read one chapter, but so far I would recommend it.

In the book, Chan encourages the reader to watch this video:

http://crazylovebook.com/
click ‘videos’
then click ‘the awe factor of God’

I would HIGHLY recommend watching this video!

I was completely in awe of God after watching this. It’s amazing how small and insignificant we are, yet so often we shift our mindsets to think that we’re the only important ones in this world.

Chan wrote, “Many Spirit-filled authors have exhausted the thesaurus in order to describe God with the glory He deserves. His perfect holiness, by definition assures us that our words can’t contain Him. Isn’t it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?” *Crazy Love, p.31)

Wow! We serve such an amazing God! I’m truly in awe of Him!

hradec kralove

Part of working in Vysoke Myto means working in Hradec Kralove. Every other Thursday, our team drives out to Hradec to work with the youth out there. Last week, there was a team of Americans working with both Hradec Kralove and Vysoke Myto. It was great to have them here, and really good to meet so many of the kids in the area. I really look forward to getting to know them even better!

mluvím trošku česky

Czech is a very difficult language. Of course, I have nothing to compare it to, since I've never learned another language. I took a year of German in 8th grade, but my teacher didn't like me and I didn't think I learned enough to go on to German 2 in high school, and I never attempted another language after that...until I moved to Czech.

I often laugh at God's sense of humor. I'm probably one of the few people in the world who got away with not taking any language classes in high school (thanks to home-schooling a couple years and starting college through a prep-school program). And here I am now...attempting to live in a country where I don't speak the language. There are times when I'm trying to learn Czech where I'm laughing at myself, and other times where my friends are laughing with me. It can be pretty entertaining.

My roommate and I decided we're going to spend a certain amount of time every day just speaking Czech. Today, as we were doing this, she was asking when our friend Katka was coming over. I told her, "Katka will come near." Then I thought for a second..."No, Katka will come SOON." Blizko and brzy both start with B's, but they're totally different words! Oh, the joys of learning a language! :)

On the other hand, I met with a tutor for a couple hours yesterday, and she was very encouraging. Toward the beginning of our lesson, she asked me if I played any instruments. I guess if you're musical, it helps you hear the "music" of languages. She told me the reason she asked was because (according to her) I have a "natural ear for languages." I'm not sure if she's right or not, but it would be nice if she was!

I guess we'll find out in the process. But for now...I'm having fun with my mistakes. Maybe Katka will come near again. ;)

I'm here!

Well, I made it safely to Czech!

While it's exciting to be here, I still feel like I'm in a haze...am I really here? I asked one of my Czech friends that last night and she pinched me to make sure. I felt it, so this must be real! :)

I'm a little bummed because I got sick on the plane ride over here, and haven't felt better since. I was able to make it to the youth group last night though, so I was at least able to see some people, so that was good.

Tomorrow, I'll head over to church in Pisek, then on Monday we'll head over to Malenovice for a LADY's (Leah's favorite word) retreat. I'm looking forward to seeing people there and having a time of rest before jumping into things.

I'm also excited to get to meet our other roommate Emily, who is already in Malenovice!

what to pack?

My friend Rachel & her son Austin came over to help me back before I left. That morning Rachel asked Austin what he wanted to do that day. He said, "Autumn house today?"

So they came over to help...and I guess Austin decided for me what I needed to pack! :)

more on packing

I've decided I'm done packing (or maybe it's just wishful thinking). As I'm sorting through and trying to get rid of things, I'm realizing...why do I need all this stuff?!? So I decided on the essentials, and this is all I'm bringing. Now, I have three empty suitcases and room to bring two more friends with me! (Suitcase #1 is already reserved by my dear friend Jenny.) :)

Anyone else coming along?

packing/sorting

I've decided to take on a pretty big project. I could just start packing, but why do something easy, when it could be more complicated? I decided to sort through everything I own and get rid of the things I'll never use again. Right now, you can barely walk through the front room! I set up a few tables and brought everything up from the basement, so pretty much everything I own is on these tables. It's a pretty overwhelming task, but I'll be glad to be done with it!

In the end...I hope to bring everything I own in two (okay, maybe three) suitcases.

my lack of artistic abilities

(Thanks Hawaii-I used your pictures again.)

I have many friends who are very artistic (such as my friend Mollie). I however am not. I even came across my 5th grade report card, and I received points for "effort". I think that's just a nice way of saying, "You tried." It's okay, though. I've come to terms with the fact that I'm not artistic, but because of it I'm able to appreciate other people who are artistic even more.

A few months ago, I decided to take on a little project. Now, my artistic friends will probably get a kick out of how clueless I am when it comes to art. One of my favorite games is Settlers of Catan. One thing that's always bothered me is that you have to put the box away perfectly in order for everything to fit in the box. So I thought it would help if I made little bags to sort the pieces a little better. I bought all the materials I needed...and they ended up sitting in my closet for months. I couldn't figure out the best way to make these bags. So the materials sat and sat. Now that I'm leaving soon, I realized, if I don't do these now-I'm never going to do them. So I got everything out...the materials, the sewing machine...and I went upstairs to ask my mom how to do them. As she was explaining it to me, she suddenly realized I had no idea what she was talking about. She stopped mid-sentence and said, "I can't believe you can't visualize this!" That's when she decided she'd take on the project herself. She had me help...but in the same way she'd have my four-year-old niece help. (I pushed the string through...and turned the bags inside out...) :) It's pretty embarrassing that I'm that clueless when it comes to something as simple as sewing! BUT we *cough* she finished the bags...and I'm pretty excited about them! THANKS MOM!

a new kind of worship

Kyle and I were in the car the other day when he wanted to listen to music. He said he didn't care what we listened to, so I put on a Czech worship CD (to see how he would react). He now has a new favorite worship song, and asks me to play it every time we're driving. I liked the song before...and now I appreciate it in a different way. Plus, I love the lyrics!

Here's the song:

Ke Slávě Tvé

Ježíš Kristus On je Král
Ježíš Kristus On je Král
On žije, On z mrtvých vstal

Před ním se jednou pokloní
Celé nebe a celá zem
Vždyt všechno, co On učinil
Stvořil ke chvále své
Ke chvále své jmenou

(Thank you Katka Vlnova for translating this...you probably don't even remember doing it.)

Jesus Christ He is King
Jesus Christ He is King
He’s alive, He rose from the dead

In front of Him, I will one day bow
The whole sky and the whole ground
And so everything He’s made
Was created for His glory
To praise His name

funny videos

My family keeps telling me I find the funniest videos on YouTube. I keep telling them, my friends find them, and I pass them along. So I thought I would pass along some of my favorite YouTube videos.

Kyle and Blake showed me these two videos...they're a couple of their favorites.

Blood (Don't be confused by the title, it's not gory in any way.)

Charlie Bit My Finger

Lady goes back to work after many years...
(Thanks to Judy Brack)


The Translator (even though it should be called 'The Interpreter')
I hope no one gets offended by this. It just shows how important it is to have a good interpreter...in a funny way.

And last, but not least...

Confessions of a Tooth Fairy (Thank you Ryan Schultz)
By the way, this entire video has been quoted many many times at our house.

my status

This time of waiting is finally coming to an end! (At least, I hope so!)

Praise God, I'm at 95% with my monthly support! This means, I'll probably be heading back to Czech in February!

I'm a little hesitant to post this, since I'm not at 100% and don't know for sure that I'll be leaving in February, but I also want to ask you to pray with me! Please pray that God will provide the last little bit of support so I can get back to Czech soon. Also pray that He will continue to draw me closer to Him in the process. It's so easy for me to feel like I'm at 95%, so I'm already there, instead of remembering that the last 5% won't come in without Him. He has continually provided and shown His faithfulness and I pray that I'll continue to seek Him with this last little bit. I also want to keep seeking Him in other areas, as well. I don't want the support to be the only thing drawing me to my knees.

This Psalm has been one of my favorites lately.

"Praise the LORD, all nations!
Extol Him, all peoples!
For great is His steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!"
-Psalm 117

Hopefully my next post will include my departure date!

food logs

Kyle and Blake (11 & 9) have to log what they're eating for school. Blake was helping Kyle what he's eaten this week (of course, he's doing his daily reading log on Sunday), and here's part of the conversation that was going on:

Blake: What kind of Pepsi, diet or regular?

Kyle: Diet?!? I'm not on a diet!

Me: You know, some people drink diet pop because they like the taste.

Blake: HOW?!?

13 Ways to Bless Missionaries Without Paying for Postage

I came across this blog post, and thought I'd share it with you:

13 Ways to Bless Missionaries Without Paying for Postage

Since I'm not overseas right now, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to encourage you to pray for and encourage the missionaries you know. A couple of my favorites from this list are: pray for the missionary and email it to them, and make them a video. It's amazing how much it means when you hear a familiar voice or see a familiar face...even if it's through a video. The other ideas are great as well, those are the two that stood out to me the most.

So if you know of any missionaries (besides me), I would encourage you to pray for them, and consider encouraging them in a different way. And if you don't know any missionaries, and want to be praying for one (or more)...let me know and I can get you connected. I'm often amazed when I hear of people who are praying for me who I've never even met. It's truly a blessing to have people on their knees praying for the ministry.

1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."